A bill that makes a third DUI[2] conviction a felony is scheduled to be heard Monday afternoon by a House committee.

House Bill 1184 [3]doesn’t have a fiscal note attached to it yet but several Capitol observors say they believe the price tag will be too prohibitive for the budget-challenged state.

The sponsor, Rep. Cory Gardner[4], R-Yuma, said he expects to see the fiscal note on Monday. He said during testimony he is going to propose ways to cut the budget and use that savings to be able to incarcerate repeat DUI offenders. His budget-cutting proposals include eliminating a front license plate, which will save around $4 million, and reducing dues and membership fees the state pays to belong to a variety of organizations[5].

“I think it’s important enough to try to find a way to pay for it,” Gardner said.

Gardner’s measure is one of seven bills the House Judiciary Committee has scheduled to hear Monday afternoon, starting at 1:30 p.m. The hearing was moved to the Old Supreme Court chambers because a crowd is expected to testify on a river navigation measure[6].

Rep. Claire Levy[7], chairwoman of the House Judiciary Committee, said she might change the order the bills are heard.

Levy, D-Boulder, has her own DUI proposal[8], but it hasn’t been introduced yet. The bill doesn’t create a felony, but it calls for consistency in sentencing from county to county.

She said the bill is in reaction to a Denver Post [9]series showing across Colorado repeat drunken drivers pay vastly different prices for their crimes — despite a state law that is supposed to mean jail for all of them.

“It was shocking,” she said.

Said Gardner: “I don’t think her bill goes far enough but if it’s the only thing we can get passed this year, it’s an improvement.”